BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, 22 July 1936, Page 3

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL. OVERHAULING THE LIBRARY. The Mayor, Mr. T. Jordan, presided at the monthly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, held last night. Others present were: Councillors J. Ninnes, Trevor Beetham, A. T. Jackson, H. E. Gardner, R. Russell, A. Rippon; W. Kemp, G. D. Wilson, A. D. Low, W. H. Judd and W. White. It was decided that a letter from the Central School Committee with reference to storm water backing up in Russell Street be handed' to the Borough Engineer. An application was received from the Trust Lands Trust for the remission of rates on the Opera House property. It was decided that for the current rating year one-half of the rates be remitted.

A letter was received from the Minister of Finance stating that the question of restoring the subsidy on rate payments would receive early consideration and the council would be notified directly a decision was made. The Commissioner of Crown Lands forwarded a schedule of rates the department was prepared to pay for the 1935-36 rating year on properties in the Borough controlled by the department. It\ was decided to accept the schedule and to write off balances, including penalties, owing. It was decided that the question of proceeding with the making of the abattoir amendment by-laws be held in abeyance until the result of pending legislation which might have a direct bearing on the matter was known more definitely. A letter was received from the owner of a block of land adjoining the abattoir land, notifying the council that a recent survey had disclosed that the boundary fence between his property and the council’s property was on the wrong line. He said he wished to have the fence shifted to its proper position, and asked the council to meet him in the’ matter. It was decided that the council bear one half the cost incurred in shifting the fence to its pro-

per position. A report submitted by the Park,

Halls and Library Committee stated: “Your committee is of the opinion that the reference library is in need of an overhaul, and with that object in view, asks authority to engage a competent person who would classify the books now contained in the reference library, discarding those books which do not rightly belong there, and placing other books now on the shelves of The library, in the reference room.” “ Suggestions having been received from time to time whereby matters pertaining to the library generally might be improved and being desirous of effecting improvements in running the library,” another section of the report stated “your committee recommends that every subscriber be ‘invited by circular to attend a special meeting at which any constructive criticism will be welcomed by your committee and which might ultimately lead to library matters being put on a better basis.” The chairman of the Library Committee, Councillor G. D. Wilson, said that the committee it was hoped to set up from subscribers would only have power to make recommendations. The Library Committee would not lose any vestige of its control of the library. It was hoped that some good would come out of the meeting of subscribers. Councillor Wilson said that the committee was not proud of the condition of the library. The reports and recommendations were adopted.